Final gun report: Vikings 23, Bears 20 in overtime

All this game lacked was a missed field goal returned for a touchdown on the final play, which nearly happened.

The Vikings avoided another tie and defeated the Bears 23-20 in overtime at the Metrodome in Sunday’s whacky contest.

The game was finally decided with 1:47 left in overtime on kicker Blair Walsh’s 34-yard game-winning field goal. Walsh made a 39-yard field goal on the second possession in overtime that was called back due to a facemask penalty on tight end Rhett Ellison. Walsh missed a 57-yard field goal two plays later that hit the bottom crossbar. The Bears started their second overtime drive at their 47 after Walsh’s miss. They elected to kick the game winner on second down, but kicker Robbie Gould missed a 47-yard field goal with 4:07 left in overtime.

Quarterback Christian Ponder left the game right before halftime due to concussion symptoms and didn’t return. Matt Cassel played the entire second half and went 20 of 33 for 243 yards and a touchdown. He led a 12-play, 70-yard drive that ended on Walsh’s 30-yard field goal to tie the game at 20 with 24 seconds left. The Vikings scored 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, including an eight-yard touchdown catch by wide receiver Greg Jennings, to force overtime for a second straight week. Jennings has three touchdown receptions this season, all thrown by Cassel.

Cassel threw his only interception when Ellison bobbled a possible touchdown that fell into Bears linebacker Khaseem Greene’s hands with 6:57 left in the game. The Vikings started the drive in the red zone on a fumble recovered by linebacker Marvin Mitchell. Bears tackle Kyle Long caught a flip pass from quarterback Josh McCown that was deflected by linebacker Audie Cole, who stripped the ball from Long.

Running back Adrian Peterson became the 28th player in NFL history to eclipse 10,000 yards. He accomplished the feat in 101 games, the third fewest in NFL history. Peterson finished with 35 carries for a season-high 211 yards against the NFL’s worst-ranked run defense.

Cornerback Chris Cook was ejected in the third quarter for making contact with an official after allowing a 46-yard touchdown to wide receiver Alshon Jeffery. It was the second touchdown Cook allowed to Jeffery, who broke the Bears’ franchise record with 249 receiving yards in the game.

The Vikings held a 7-6 lead at halftime on wide receiver Cordarralle Patterson’s 33-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter. He became the first rookie in franchise history to score a touchdown in three different ways (rushing, receiving and kickoff return). It was also the first drive the Vikings took advantage of the Bears’ worst-ranked run defense in the NFL. The 5-play, 90-yard drive lasted 2:33 with four runs accounting for 58 yards.